Sp1 Sm-08581 Heated Replacement Brake Levers on 2040-parts.com

Drivers unmoved by electric cars

SUPPORT for electric cars appears to be failing to spark off real interest from drivers, according to a survey of more than 3,000 motorists. Only 1% of UK drivers own an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV), while CO2 emissions are at the bottom of the checklist when Britons are shopping for a new car, the poll by Auto Trader found. Since January 2011, motorists have been eligible for up to £5,000 upfront cost relief on the purchase of a new electric vehicle but the survey showed that 35% of drivers were unaware of this grant.

BMW i8 Winter testing (video)

The BMW i8 is caught on video cold weather testing We have video of the BMW i8 winter testing in deep snow, in what looks to be a a much closer to production i8. The BMW i8 has been floating around for nearly three years as BMW’s nod to an eco future for supercars. Starting with the Vision EfficientDynamics concept we saw back in 2009, BMW went on to reveal their ‘i’ Brand and reveal the  BMW i8 last summer. With the i8 not likely to hit showrooms until late 2013 or early 2014, BMW are out doing what car makers do and testing their new cars in extreme weather, this time it’s cold weather testing and footage of the i8 frolicking with the snow ploughs.

Dacia Duster SUV: Mark Webber goes Desert Driving (video)

We have video of Red Bull’s Mark Webber playing with the new Dacia Duster in the Desert Dunes of Oman. But it’s not the £9k Duster FWD that holds the most appeal, but the 4WD version that starts from £10,995, even if it does come with steel wheels and a very basic spec. At that sort of price it looks like a real bargain; the perfect ‘DoFor’ car for anyone who lives anywhere near anything muddy or susceptible to snow.